A Boone County man faces charges after allegedly hitting a pedestrian and fleeing the scene Thursday night along West Virginia Route 85 near Van.
According to the West Virginia State Police, Trooper First Class A.R. Workman responded around 8:22 p.m. on October 2, 2025, after reports of a pedestrian being struck in the northbound lane near Van Park.
First responders found the victim lying partially down an embankment about 50 yards north of the park. Members of the Wharton Fire Department located the injured man and transported him to Van High School’s football field, where he was airlifted to CAMC General Hospital in Charleston.
Investigators recovered a broken side mirror and fragments of glass at the scene, believed to be from the vehicle involved.
Authorities later identified the suspected driver as Calvin Luther Buckner of Gordon, West Virginia. Troopers located Buckner and a gray 2003 Dodge Neon matching the suspect description at his home on Halona Lane.
Workman reported visible damage to the passenger side of the vehicle, including a missing side mirror and shattered windshield—damage consistent with the victim’s injuries. When questioned, Buckner admitted he had hit something but claimed he thought it was a bird crossing the road.
Hospital officials confirmed the victim sustained a broken left leg, a fractured back, and a severe head laceration, requiring surgery.
The investigation is ongoing, and charges are pending review by the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office.
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